Colorado’s Olga Little ran burro-train deliveries to mountain miners

[/media-credit] Olga Little gave a burro packing demonstration in front of the Denver Post on January 26, 1939. Denver Post File Photo

For 30 years, Olga Little, the west’s only known woman “jack-whacker” ran a burro train in the La Plata mountain range in Colorado. She operated her jack train out of Durango carrying supplies to miners in high and remote regions where many veteran men packers refused to go.

Olga began her career by driving livery teams taking tourists into the mountains for fishing, and occasionally delivering groceries to the mines.

In the spring of 1909, when she was 16, floods washed out several of the roads and most of the bridges in the area. The Ruby Mine up Junction Creek needed supplies and Olga agreed to take them.

On the way back she was met by a superintendent of another mine, the Neglected. He contracted with her on the spot, launching her career.

Soon she began packing loads on the return trips from the mines. She brought down ore to the smelters, carried dismantled mine machinery and once, transported the corpse of a miner. On the way up, she usually took food, lumber, drilling tools and dynamite.

Between 1909 and 1947, she packed supplies into practically every mine in the area.

There were a few mishaps. Once her horse slipped on an icy trail and fell over the shoulder of a thousand-foot slope. She found her horse scraped and shaken but uninjured in a deep pocket of snow at the bottom.

Another time, while going through Eagle Pass, she lost three burros loaded with crates of dynamite. The fall killed the burros, but only broke open the crates and scattered the sticks of dynamite.

When news of her unusual occupation became known, Olga Little was interviewed for magazines, newspapers, radio shows and special appearances.

In 1939, she and a string of burros appeared in front of the Denver Post building, where she gave a demonstration of packing.

[/media-credit] Olga Little’s jack train pulls out from The Denver Post building on January 26, 1939. Mrs. Little is on her horse, Nellie, heading the train up Champa Street after loading in front of The Post. Denver Post File Photo

Central City invited her to bring her burros to the summer festival, where the packed jacks were tethered in front of the Teller House. And for years she participated in Durango’s Spanish Trails Fiesta parades.

On October 29, 1958, Olga Little became the subject of Ralph Edward’s television show, “This is Your Life.”

[/media-credit] Olga Little’s life story was recounted on the Ralph Edwards show, “This Is Your Life,” in the Denver Coliseum on nationwide TV on October 29, 1958. Albert Moldvay/Denver Post File Photo